Flame Con, created by the LGBTQ non-profit Geeks OUT, is announcing its fourth annual expo on Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19. After a record year of 6,000 attendees in 2017, Flame Con will be relocating to a new venue at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel to accommodate a larger exhibitor floor, panel rooms, special hotel stay rates and more. Tickets for the con and registration for exhibitors and vendors are now open.

“I am beyond thrilled to be bringing Flame Con back for our fourth year,” said Steve Gianaca, Vice President of Geeks OUT and Flame Con Chair. “Geek culture through a queer lens has always been our premise and, with the continuous support from the LGBTQ community, we are constantly growing. I cannot wait for our attendees to experience the same ethos of fun and inclusion in our new venue.”

SparQ Fund is also returning this year helping make this year’s con more accessible by funding ADA compliant ramps. Last year’s SparQ Fund hosted artists Ethan Parker and Amy Reeder, who supported collaborative art workshops for over 100 attendees, featuring their art throughout the convention floor. Through the SparQ Fund, Flame Con aims to provide the entire LGBTQ community with the opportunity to experience meaningful, provocative art that reflects themselves. The SparQ Fund will be sponsored by Hive Works again this year, joining another returning sponsor, Webtoon who will once again be hosting our annual vendor brunch.

Last year’s con featured over 200 queer-oriented vendors alongside the likes of feature creators Kate Leth (Patsy Walker A.K.A. Hellcat!) Dan Parent (Life with Kevin), Steve Orlando (Supergirl) and more. The con also played host to celebrity special guests Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham) and Vincent Rodriguez III (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). This year, Flame Con is happy to be welcoming back some of last year’s featured guests such as Sina Grace (Burn the Orphanage, Li’l Depressed Boy)

“Flame Con was hands-down one of the best convention experiences of my life,” said Sina Grace, comics writer and artist. “I begged the gracious and wonderful crew at Geeks OUT to have me back, and I’m beyond thrilled to celebrate comics with the most inclusive and loving bunch of people I’ve ever met.”

In addition to Grace, Flame Con looks forward to hosting the creative talents of Tee Franklin (Bingo Love), illustrator, Jen Bartel and more. Featuring hundreds of creators exhibiting queer-positive comics, arts, crafts, clothes and entertainment, Flame Con is open to all ages and will be free for all youth on Sunday, August 19.

Tickets to Flame Con are available through Eventbrite and will feature Daily, Weekend and Weekend VIP passes which includes access to the official 2018 Flame Con party. Tickets can be purchased at www.flamecon.eventbrite.com.

About Flame ConFlame Con is the first New York City-based and world’s largest queer comic con. Created by LGBTQ non-profit organization Geeks OUT, the fan expo is entering its fourth year. Each year, the convention hosts a wide range of special guests within the LGBTQ community giving fans opportunities to interact with them during panels and on the exhibitor floor, featuring some of the most popular cosplayers, queer artists, vendors and more. For more information, please visit www.flamecon.org.

About Geeks OUTGeeks OUT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to rallying, empowering and promoting the queer geek community. Founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing a positive queer presence to local comic conventions, Geeks OUT now hosts events in five major cities, attends conventions across the nation and produces the world’s largest LGBTQ comic convention – Flame Con. Geeks OUT is also the publisher behind Power and the forthcoming Serving Pride: The Queer History Dinner Party Handbook. For more information please visit www.geeksout.org.